Sandy Hook

File:Sandy hook from north tower crop.jpg, Highlands, New Jersey]]

Geologically, Sandy Hook is a large sand spit or barrier spit, the extension of a barrier peninsula along the coast of New Jersey, separated from the mainland by the estuary of the Shrewsbury River. On its western side, the peninsula encloses Sandy Hook Bay, a triangular arm of Raritan Bay. The {{convert|2,044|acre|km2|adj=on}} peninsula was discovered by Henry Hudson,{{cite journal|editor1-last=Rounds|editor1-first=Kate|title=The Shore Next Door|journal=Palisade - Hoboken & Beyond|date=2010|volume=4|issue=3|pages=38–39|url=https://issuu.com/hudsonreporter/docs/v4n3_pmag_web_reduced|access-date=4 September 2016|publisher=Hudson Reporter Assoc., LP}} and, historically, Sandy Hook has been a convenient anchorage for ships before proceeding into Upper New York Harbor.

Sandy Hook is part of Middletown Township, although not contiguous with the rest of the Township. Because the peninsula is also federal enclave, Middletown and the federal government have a Concurrent jurisdiction. The community of Highlands overlooks the southern part of the hook.

Sandy Hook is owned by the federal government. Most of it is managed by the National Park Service and U.S. National Park Service rangers as the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. The eastern shoreline consists of public beaches: North Beach, Gunnison Beach, and South Beach. The southern part of the spit consists of public beaches and fishing areas. The peninsula's ocean-facing beaches are considered among the finest in New Jersey and are a popular destination for recreation in summer when seasonal ferries{{cite web|url=http://www.seastreak.com/sandyhook.aspx |title=Sea Streak |publisher=Sea Streak |access-date=2012-12-17}} bring beachgoers from its various docking points including NYC. Gunnison Beach is one of the largest clothing optional beaches on the East Coast.{{cite news |first= Guy|last= Trebay|title= All Undressed and So Many Places to Go |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE6D91030F931A3575AC0A9679C8B63|work=New York Times |date=September 2, 2001 |access-date=2007-08-21 }}Flam, Faye. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=112F14F51E4A74A0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Clothing optional may not be way of historical human"], The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 17, 2006. Accessed June 17, 2007. "Sandy Hook boasts the biggest nude beach along the Atlantic. The clothing-optional part is called Gunnison Beach ...."

Sandy Hook Lighthouse is located within the fort grounds, as is the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), a magnet high school, part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District. At the entrance to Fort Hancock is Guardian Park, a plaza dominated by two Nike missiles. Some of the buildings of Fort Hancock are closed to the public because their structural integrity in decay, and to preserve its profile for future visitors. A proposal was recently accepted to allow adaptive reuse of some of the buildings in Fort Hancock for private use. This partnership will hopefully help these historic structures to be maintained more effectively.

The defunct U.S. Army post Fort Hancock at the north end of the peninsula is open to visitation by the National Park Service. The Sandy Hook Proving Ground was used for many years—beginning after the Civil War until 1919, when the facility was moved to Aberdeen, Maryland—and was later the site of a Nike missile defense installation. The Sandy Hook Nike station is one of a very few stations that are still intact. Almost all of the fort's gun batteries are closed to the public due to their hazardous condition. The exceptions to this are Battery Potter and Battery Gunnison. Battery Potter is open frequently for tours on the weekends, as well as Battery Gunnison which is being restored by volunteers and has two six-inch (152 mm) M1900 guns installed; the weapons were placed there in 1976. Guided tours show visitors a Nike missile, the missile firing platforms, and a radar station with 1960s-era computers. A Civil War-era 20-inch Rodman gun is also in the park; this was an experimental gun that was the largest type produced by either side of that war.

North of Fort Hancock on the western part of the "hook" is an active station of the United States Coast Guard. This is one of the original Life Saving Stations built in 1848 at a site "on bay side, one-half mile south of point of Hook." The site was changed several times through the years due to a change in land or at the request of the War Department, which owned the land.{{cite journal|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/stations/SANDYHOOK.pdf |title=Station Sandy Hook, New Jersey |journal=U.S. Coast Guard History Program |publisher=United States Coast |access-date=2012-12-17}} This area is administered by the Department of Homeland Security and is closed to the general public.

The beaches along the Atlantic shore of Sandy Hook—North Beach, Gunnison Beach and the Southern Beaches, A, B, C, D, E—feature parking lots, lifeguards, rest rooms and seasonal concession stands. They do not permit pets on the beaches yearly after March 15. Nude or partially nude sunbathers may be encountered at Gunnison Beach as it is clothing optional. In contrast, the western shore includes vast acres of sand and trails and a paved path without lifeguards or rest rooms. These stretches are favored by cyclists and kite surfers, and leashed dogs are permitted.

Within Sandy Hook some laws and regulations are different. Sandy Hook falls under Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as New Jersey State Code in instances where federal laws do not pertain. In Sandy Hook a misdemeanor could be a federal crime while outside the park it would be a minor infraction.{{citation needed|date = June 2021}}

Accommodations near Sandy Hook include bed and breakfasts such as the Sandy Hook Cottage and Seascape Manor, as well as Grand Lady by the Sea, and Nauvoo at Sandy Hook, which are all located in Highlands. Dining options have changed drastically since Superstorm Sandy, which destroyed the island's only eating location, the Sea Gulls' Nest Deck Restaurant. On the peninsula, various food trucks can be found and nearby is the locally known Bahr's Landing, Moby's and Something Fishy. The Mule Barn Tavern, located near the lighthouse, was opened in 2023.

Local activities include the Sandy Hook All Woman Lifeguard Tournament in July, boat rentals for fishing, parties and tours, and paved path for biking, rollerblading, and walking. The Henry Hudson Trail, accessible from Highlands, New Jersey, stretches {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} from Aberdeen to Atlantic Highlands and is wheelchair accessible.

The northern tip of Sandy Hook is the traditional finish of the 16.1 mile Ederle-Burke Swim, which runs from the Battery at the tip of Manhattan Island through the Narrows and into Lower New York Bay. The first successful swim occurred in 1913, when New York lifeguard Alfred Brown came ashore in 13 hours, 38 minutes. As a prelude to her English Channel triumph, Gertrude Ederle swam the same course in 1925, finishing in 7 hours, 11 minutes.{{Cite web |last=Boomer |first=Lee |title=Life Story: Gertrude Ederle, 1906–2003 - Women & the American Story |url=https://wams.nyhistory.org/confidence-and-crises/jazz-age/gertrude-ederle/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240808024118/https://wams.nyhistory.org/confidence-and-crises/jazz-age/gertrude-ederle/ |archive-date=2024-08-08 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=wams.nyhistory.org |language=en-US}}

The road that connects to Sandy Hook is Route 36. The road to the peninsula branches from Route 36 at the northern end of Sea Bright becoming Hartshorne Drive within the park. The Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge crosses the Shrewsbury River and carries the road traffic of Route 36 from Highlands in the west to Sea Bright in the east, near the entrance to Sandy Hook.

A bicycle path parallels the motor road. The SeaStreak ferry serves Sandy Hook from Manhattan in summertime.{{cite web|url=http://www.seastreak.com/ |title=Sea Streak |publisher=Sea Streak |access-date=2012-12-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.NewYorkBeachFerry.com |title=American Princess Cruises |publisher=Newyorkbeachferry.com |access-date=2012-12-17}}

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Sandy Hook has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature > {{convert|32.0|°F|1}}, at least four months with an average temperature ≥ {{convert|50.0|°F|1}}, at least one month with an average temperature ≥ {{convert|71.6|°F|1}} and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days feature slight-to-moderate humidity and a cooling afternoon sea breeze in Sandy Hook, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > {{convert|105|°F|0}}. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was {{convert|99.7|°F|1}} on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average mean dew point was {{convert|78.0|°F|1}} on July 19, 2019. The average wettest month is July which correlates with the peak in thunderstorm activity.

Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was {{convert|5.61|in|mm|0}} on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is {{convert|6.3|°F|1}}.{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=July 1, 2020|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704214427/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/interactivemap.aspx|url-status=dead}} Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was {{convert|-3.0|°F|1}} on January 21, 1985. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < {{convert|-3|°F|0}}. The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between {{convert|18|and|24|in|cm|0}}, and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| single line = Y

| location = Sandy Hook, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1981–2019

| Jan record high F = 70.2

| Feb record high F = 77.6

| Mar record high F = 82.1

| Apr record high F = 90.1

| May record high F = 94.3

| Jun record high F = 95.3

| Jul record high F = 99.4

| Aug record high F = 99.7

| Sep record high F = 96.2

| Oct record high F = 92.1

| Nov record high F = 77.5

| Dec record high F = 74.6

| year record high F = 99.7

| Jan high F = 39.1

| Feb high F = 41.9

| Mar high F = 48.7

| Apr high F = 58.3

| May high F = 68.0

| Jun high F = 77.7

| Jul high F = 82.8

| Aug high F = 81.7

| Sep high F = 75.4

| Oct high F = 64.4

| Nov high F = 54.5

| Dec high F = 44.5

| year high F = 61.5

| Jan mean F = 32.7

| Feb mean F = 34.9

| Mar mean F = 41.2

| Apr mean F = 50.6

| May mean F = 60.4

| Jun mean F = 70.1

| Jul mean F = 75.5

| Aug mean F = 74.7

| Sep mean F = 68.3

| Oct mean F = 57.1

| Nov mean F = 47.8

| Dec mean F = 38.4

| year mean F = 54.4

| Jan low F = 26.3

| Feb low F = 28.0

| Mar low F = 33.7

| Apr low F = 43.0

| May low F = 52.8

| Jun low F = 62.5

| Jul low F = 68.3

| Aug low F = 67.7

| Sep low F = 61.1

| Oct low F = 49.7

| Nov low F = 41.2

| Dec low F = 32.2

| year low F = 47.3

| Jan record low F = -3.0

| Feb record low F = 2.3

| Mar record low F = 10.0

| Apr record low F = 19.1

| May record low F = 40.2

| Jun record low F = 48.2

| Jul record low F = 54.0

| Aug record low F = 49.4

| Sep record low F = 42.9

| Oct record low F = 33.4

| Nov record low F = 17.1

| Dec record low F = 1.6

| year record low F = -3.0

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.27

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.55

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.63

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.01

| May precipitation inch = 3.67

| Jun precipitation inch = 3.96

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.57

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.92

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.54

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.69

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.32

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.77

| year precipitation inch = 43.90

| humidity colour = green

| Jan humidity = 66.3

| Feb humidity = 62.5

| Mar humidity = 61.6

| Apr humidity = 62.8

| May humidity = 66.8

| Jun humidity = 70.1

| Jul humidity = 70.4

| Aug humidity = 70.8

| Sep humidity = 71.9

| Oct humidity = 68.7

| Nov humidity = 67.3

| Dec humidity = 65.9

| year humidity = 67.1

| Jan dew point F = 22.7

| Feb dew point F = 23.4

| Mar dew point F = 29.0

| Apr dew point F = 38.4

| May dew point F = 49.3

| Jun dew point F = 59.9

| Jul dew point F = 65.2

| Aug dew point F = 64.6

| Sep dew point F = 58.9

| Oct dew point F = 46.9

| Nov dew point F = 37.5

| Dec dew point F = 28.0

| year dew point F = 43.7

| source = PRISM{{cite web |url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|access-date=July 1, 2020}}}}

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| single line = Y

| location = Sandy Hook Buoy, NJ (Ocean Water Temperature)

| Jan mean F = 37

| Feb mean F = 36

| Mar mean F = 40

| Apr mean F = 46

| May mean F = 55

| Jun mean F = 62

| Jul mean F = 69

| Aug mean F = 72

| Sep mean F = 68

| Oct mean F = 59

| Nov mean F = 51

| Dec mean F = 43

| year mean F = 53

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web|url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/all_meanT.html|title=Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions|access-date=August 1, 2019}}}}

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Sandy Hook would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (20).{{cite web|url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39|access-date= July 5, 2020|title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)}} The plant hardiness zone is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|6.3|°F|1}}. The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 23{{cite web|url=https://www.usanpn.org/data/visualizations|access-date= July 5, 2020|title=Phenology Visualization Tool}} and fall color typically peaks in early-November. The local forest can be considered as belonging to both the Northeastern coastal forests and Atlantic coastal pine barrens. Deer live in the area, as well as many seabirds such as the Least tern nesting bird. Gulls such as the American herring gull and the Laughing gull are native to the area, among others.

File:Sandy Hook lighthouse.jpg|Sandy Hook Light

File:Jsj-380-Light Ship Sandy Hook.jpg|Lightship #51 at Sandy Hook as it appeared in the 1890s.

File:Aiming 14 gun, Sandy Hook, Bain News Service.jpg|Aiming a 14-inch gun at the Sandy Hook Proving Ground

File:Historic Gun, Sandy Hook, NJ - panoramio.jpg|20-inch Rodman gun with shells

File:Sandy Hook gun platforms 3.jpg|Abandoned gun platforms of the Sandy Hook Proving Ground

File:Abandoned mortar battery Sandy Hook 2.jpg|Part of a mortar battery installation near Sandy Hook Light

File:Sponge Bob No Pants (200768094).jpg|Among the many beaches on Sandy Hook, Gunnison Beach is clothing optional.

• Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
• Fort Hancock, New Jersey
• Gateway National Recreation Area
• Sandy Hook Light
• Sandy Hook Pilots
• Sandy Hook Proving Ground
• The Leander affair

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Sandy Hook (New Jersey)}}

• [http://www.nyharborparks.org/visit/saho.html Sandy Hook Visitor Information]
• [https://www.nps.gov/gate/ National Park Service Gateway National Recreation Area]
• [http://alpha.fdu.edu/~bender/NY56.html Nike Missile Site NY-56] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514085928/http://alpha.fdu.edu/~bender/NY56.html |date=May 14, 2011 }}

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box

| title = Beaches of New Jersey

| years =

| with =

| before = Keansburg

| after = Highlands

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Middletown, New Jersey}}

{{Monmouth County, New Jersey|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Barrier islands of New Jersey

Category:Middletown Township, New Jersey

Category:Unincorporated communities in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Category:Peninsulas of New Jersey

Category:Spits of the United States

Category:Raritan Bayshore

Category:Gateway National Recreation Area

Category:Landforms of Monmouth County, New Jersey

Category:Beaches of Monmouth County, New Jersey

Category:Beaches of New Jersey